Strait of Hormuz ship delays risk global marine invasive species spread

More than a thousand commercial vessels have been idle for months in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, after repeated maritime blockades linked to the U.S.–Iran conflict. Researchers warn that the prolonged anchorage allows dense communities of algae, barnacles, mussels and other organisms to colonise the hulls, creating a large biofouling reservoir.

When the ships resume sailing, they could transport these organisms to distant ports, potentially establishing invasive populations that threaten coastal ecosystems and economies worldwide. “Invasive marine species have profound ecological and economic impacts on coastal zones around the world, and it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate them once established,” said Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientist Carolyn Tepolt. The study calls for tighter biofouling management and enhanced monitoring of invasive species at ports to mitigate what scientists describe as an unprecedented biosafety challenge.